Daejeon, Jeju Island, Korea – December 2024 – On December 8, 2024, during the concluding Mass of the annual retreat, 14 aspirants made their promises as Salesian Cooperators. This year’s retreat was held at the Salesian Education and Pastoral Center in Daejeon and the Isidore Youth Center on Jeju Island. In Daejeon, approximately 190 participants attended the retreat from November 30 to December 1, where 12 new cooperators made their promises. The event also celebrated six cooperators marking the 25th anniversary of their commitments under the theme "Journey Towards Hope." On Jeju Island, 25 participants, including cooperators and assistants from three centers, gathered on December 8, where two new promises were made. In his homily, Fr. Marcello Baek Kwang-hyeon emphasized the importance of being "beacons of hope" for marginalized youth. The retreat was organized by Fr. John Bosco Park Hae-seung and Sr. Gertrude Kim Seong-min, along with the national council, creating a meaningful experience for all attendees.

Bujumbura, Burundi – December 2024 – On December 7, 2024, the Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco gathered at the Saint Michel Archange School in Bujumbura, Burundi. The meeting featured six presentations covering topics such as the Salesian Family, the World Confederation of Past Pupils, and various development projects aimed at fostering children's talents. After the presentation, Participants reached key conclusions to enhance their initiatives: Increase Member Engagement: Continue efforts to gather more members. Form Project Commissions: Organize members into commissions for youth education and mutual aid. Invest in a New School: Develop a school for Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco. Support Former Schools: Encourage Past Pupils to contribute to their past Salesian institutions. Engage Young Past Pupils: Involve young members in income-generating activities. Establish a Polytechnic Center: Create a center to apply technical knowledge from Salesian schools. Seek Partnerships: Pursue foreign collaborations to strengthen and sustain projects. A follow-up meeting is scheduled for January 25, 2025, to launch the first projects. The day concluded with a visit to children benefiting from a five-year educational initiative.

San Pedro Carchá, Guatemala - December 2024 - On 6 December, the Church of the Good Shepherd at the Don Bosco Centre in San Pedro Carchá was the scene of a great celebration: the 1st Parish Meeting of Ministries on the theme ‘Called to be with you’. The event, organised by the local Salesian community, brought together more than 4,100 altar servers from seven parish areas. The day was attended by altar servers, their families, church leaders and members of the Salesian community from the missionary parish in the host city. The highlight was the celebration of the Eucharist, celebrated in Q'eqchi' and Spanish. In his homily, Fr Carlos Hernández, SDB, emphasised that ‘the essence of the minister lies in service: towards the Church, the community and above all towards one's own families’. The meeting highlighted the commitment and love of the altar servers who came from remote communities to participate, and left a profound lesson: Jesus calls children to be servants, and altar servers represent the beginning of a life dedicated to faith.